POS1587-HPR DISABILITY IN AN ITALIAN COHORT OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES: A MIXED METHOD STUDY FOR THE ANALYSIS OF THE PHENOMENON AND PROPOSALS FOR NURSING APPROACH
Authors: M. R. Melis, K. El Aoufy, T. Bacci, E. Corsi, E. Coli, C. Fantauzzo, G. Gambardella, O. Marrani, T. Pucci, M. Zolferino, M. Matucci-Cerinic, S. Guiducci
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Rheumatic diseases are heterogeneous clinical conditions that often lead to functional disability with consequent impairment of Quality of Life (QoL). Assessing the risk factors of disability is required to find improvement strategies geared toward patient empowerment and implementation of current health services. <h3>Objectives</h3> The aim of the present observational-descriptive study was to analyse the impact of disability in an Italian cohort of rheumatic patients and suggest nursing intervention hypotheses to approach disability-related problems and improve QoL in rheumatology patients. <h3>Methods</h3> Data collection was carried out through in-person or remote interviews with rheumatic patients of a Rheumatology Unit in Florence, Italy. The interviews aimed at observing the phenomenon of disability and the following questionnaires were administered: Short Form-12 (SF-12) for QoL, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-DI) for disability, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health (WPAI:GH) for workability. Afterwards, the nursing group met to discuss the results and, based on recent literature, propose strategies for approaching the patient with disabilities in daily clinical practice. <h3>Results</h3> 21 rheumatic patients were interviewed. For mental and physical health SF-12 showed scores of 47.6 and 46.1, respectively. Pain level averaged 2.2 score, while disability index as assessed with HAQ-DI was 0.3 score. As for the workability, 50% of the sample interviewed work on average for 33.6 hours with a mean of 2.6 hours of absence from work due to the disease. Lastly, 6.25% report work suspension with disability pension due to illness. Nursing intervention hypotheses to curb disability-related problems and improve QoL in rheumatology patients are summarized as follows in Figure 1. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Psychological well-being falls within the determinants of QoL, jointly with other factors such as occupational and relational well-being and control of disease progression, in line with the reviewed studies. Understanding and investigating the determinants of QoL for each patient is the starting point for holistic care geared toward his or her well-being: this attitude cannot be separated from a multidisciplinary approach by healthcare professionals. <h3>References</h3> [1]Stucki G et al (2003) Understanding disability Ann Rheum Dis. 62(4):289-90. doi: 10.1136/ard.62.4.289. [2]Juan J et al (2017) Functional disability associated with disease and quality-of-life parameters in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. doi: 10.1186/s12955-017-0659-z. [3]Bombardier C et al (2011) The relationship between joint damage and functional disability in rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 71. 836-44. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-200343. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.